Karaoke Forums

A couple weeks ago Lonman posted up some hints on using Brasso to fix pitted/scratched CDG's. I have several taht have been played so many times and have been loved to death that they are starting to skip. Any more suggestions on how to fix discs---Lonnie??? Could u repost that brasso fix?

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

It's a technique used by many a studio.  Just use Brass-o, a small amount on a soft rag rub it into the disc carefully but generously then wipe off witha clean rag.  Most of the small scratches will be removed.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Is the damage only on the playing side?    Hold the disc up to the light and see if you can see any holes in the foil.    If you do see some holes, the foil is oxidizing.   You can put a blank disc label on the disc and the laser light will reflect off of the white paper, instead of shining through.    You might be able to make a playable master copy from it.

For the playing side scratches.   Disc Dr. has a polishing machine.  It's like a little wet sander.   They work pretty good.   I also use a very fine abrasive, used to buff out the fine scratches on cars.   It's called Finesse-it by 3M.   $35 a quart.  It's white.   Use an old baby diaper that is really soft.    Dab a little on the disc and rub it with the diaper.   Not in a circle, but from the hole to the outside, in straight lines.

For deeper scratches, try just a small dab of toothpaste mixed in with the brasso.  I don't tell many people this but I had a bad protein spot on one of my contacts (eye) before I had disposable ones.  Used a little toothpaste on it and "presto" clean as a baby's bottom.  Just make sure you wash it real good before you put it back in your eye.  OUCH.

Kelly

a few have pits in them---the one of using a white lable could help for the huh? Ill try the brasso on the others.!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

another thing you can do is get a silver "Sharpie" and fill in the hole on the foil side.

If you can see light coming through a hole in the foil, it's oxidizing.     The laser shines up on the foil and it is reflected back to the reader.   If the laser shines through the hole it isn't reflected back and you get a glitch.   It you use the white label or the silver marker, it might help you to be able to get a good enough copy of the disc.    You can not stop the oxidation.   They thought that CDs would last forever.   They are not going to last as expected.    I have originals that are oxidized so bad, they look like swiss cheese.

I'm betting that you keep your discs in sleeves in Logic Cases or something similar.  If so, STOP.  It is best to keep them in jewel cases.  In 15 years we've only had to replace two discs out of over 1,500, due to damage or wear.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Tim,  Is that a chemical breakdown from two materials touching over time ?  Or the fact that these are softshell cases and CD's don't get adequate protection ?   For just home use, does it make as much of a difference ?   I have ample supply of both jewel cases, and plastic sleeves..  Just wondering if there's a chemical breakdown, or is it friction and impact over time ?   If the two plastics making contact contributes to a breakdown in the material, or faster disintegration, I want to get all my CD's out've sleeves, and into jewel cases

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Yes they are in sleves---not oxidation problem, but scratching from too much use. So ill try the white patch and brasso tricks--thanks for th help on it!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I'm not 100% sure, but I think they are a thin aluminum coating.   That stuff oxidizes from just being in the air, look at the screen door.   I'm sure these discs aren't manufactured to prevent exposure to the air, ie ozone and all of the contaminates in the air.     So they start to degrade before they leave the building.   Just like Elvis.

Basic science.  Aluminum does not rust.  Check any science site.  The scratches on most discs are caused by sliding them in and out of sleeves.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Murphy's wood oil soap fixes majority of regular scratches on the bottom for me... been using it for about 10 years now...

tig

Do a google search on the term aluminum oxidation and then say that again.... (http://www.google.com/search?q=aluminum+oxidation)



I agree with you on this point, and here is where the problem starts, for most people:

CDs are made in layers. The layers that we are concerned with are the Polycarbonate layer on the bottom side (the side the laser reads from), the aluminum reflective layer, and the thin protective coating over the aluminum layer, which is where the label is printed.  This thin protective coating is our problem area.

This protective coating is very thin, and once compromised, it is likely that the aluminum layer can be damaged directly.  Even if the aluminum isn't damaged initially, it is now exposed to air, and thus the oxidation process starts.  This is bad for a few reasons.  First, aluminum oxide is not as reflective as aluminum, so the integrity of the data read from the disc is not as good, and second, the now exposed aluminum is likely to be knocked off, nicked or otherwise damaged with repeated insertion and removal from the sleeve, or through whatever handling mishaps might occur.

Also to be noted is that

Once the protective coating on the label side of a CD is damaged, or the aluminum layer is compromised in any way, it is only a matter of time before the CD needs to be replaced. Look at a light source through your CD. if you see pinholes, or areas where light passes through better than in other places, you have a problem waiting to happen.  Granted, CDs can last for YEARS like this, but if they are used often, left in less than desirable environment or not cared for properly, it is hard to predict how long they will last.

I'm not sure the scientific definition of rust excludes oxidation that isn't ferric oxide, or ferric hydroxide... Does rust necessarily mean "reddish" (iron type) ?  or is it a term for any type corrosion, or oxidation ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I bought a disc on ebay a few weeks ago and it had cellophane on it and was new, when I opened it the cd had a crack looking thing in it but its not broke it looks like the crack is inside the cd I cant feel it if I run my finger over it or anything, is it a bust or do any of you have any ideas on how to fix it ? thanks

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Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]

I'd return it for replacement or money back.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I would but its a discontinued disc

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Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]

throw it in your burner and make a master before it's gone.

ok so maybe I didnt clarify good enough , this cdg is new I just bought it off of ebay, a guy getting rid of some older stock ,  its damaged when it gets here, it wont play, I cant send it to the manufact. for replacement as its a discontinued disc, the guy doesnt have another one so he gives me my $ back but Im still in the same boat... I want the disc and cant get it. I was just wondering if anyone has fixed this sort of problem before and it wouldnt be a total loss. So if it wont play I cant make a burn right?

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Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]